Introduction 

Quality of life is important to all of us, we all want to live a life we enjoy. Sometimes different areas of our life are affected by our health, and for those living with muscular atrophy they may have a decreased quality of life. It is important to recognise how muscular atrophy can affect us and if there's anything we can do to improve an individual’s quality of life when they are suffering from muscular atrophy. 

What is muscular atrophy 

Our body contains many muscles, and they are essential for our body function. Our muscles contain a source of amino acids, and organs use the amino acids as energy. Muscular atrophy is when there is a large loss of muscle mass, and this can affect the body in different ways. Shrinkage of the muscle mass is defined as atrophy, and when there is shrinkage of muscles there are less amino acids and less source of energy for our organs.¹ The muscular shrinkage also means there is a loss of strength in that muscle and people may experience weakness. 

Causes of skeletal muscular atrophy - diseases 

Diseases can cause skeletal muscles to shrink, and by early detection of certain diseases, the preventative measures can be implemented to prevent shrinkage. Causes of skeletal muscular atrophy include:

• Cancer, such as hematological cancers 
• Chronic inflammatory diseases
• Neuromuscular diseases
• Other causes include the prolonged stays in the intensive care wards from conditions such as sepsis²

Cachexia 

A disease that is associated with weakness and wasting of the body, and can be diagnosed alongside a late-stage cancer diagnosis. The pathological processes are currently not well understood and are being extensively researched. Symptoms include muscle mass loss, loss of appetite which contributes to weight loss, weakness, and fatigue. Treatments can include appetite suppressants to encourage the individual to consume more food, which may slow down muscle loss. However, fatigue and weakness combined with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy may make it impossible for the patient to partake in exercise which is beneficial.⁴ 

Quality of life - physical 

Each person has different hobbies, different day-to-day routines and different wishes. Although one person may not be affected by muscle wastage, and that does not mean everybody has such experiences. For example, a professional athlete who has an intense training schedule would have a severely impacted quality of life if he had muscular atrophy compared to an individual with a sedentary lifestyle. 

Quality of life - social 

An individual can experience reduced mobility, which may limit his ability to partake in social events. For example, a person may find it difficult to move from one place to another. Walking distances and physical social activities may become difficult for the individuals who may miss out on spending time with friends and family. Missing out on regular activities can also be detrimental to a person's mental health, causing problems such as depression and anxiety. 

Summary 

Everybody has different expectations, wants, and needs from their life. Muscle shrinkage does cause problems for which some can be detrimental to their mental health. A reduced quality of life impacts not only the individual but their family as well. It is important to understand how chronic conditions such as muscular atrophy can cause problems in different areas of life.